Sunday, June 3, 2012

What to do...

The kids brought home an adorable baby kitten. She couldn't be more than six weeks old!

She does appear to be healthy and has used the litter box once and eaten a few bites of kibble. I was kind of worried about whether or not she was weaned after she was sucking my fingertips...

 Apparently the momma cat was living in a garage and the people that found them took all the rest to the shelter, leaving her after the neighborhood kids begged for her.

Well, the shelter is closed now and the kids are giving me the "can we keep it" routine. Our other two cats are hissing and generally hacked off. I'm not sure how to handle this!

Here is a rough pic:


23 comments:

USA_Admiral said...

Welcome to our home? She is adorable.

Brooke said...

Thanks, guys! As long as no one gets territorial over the litter box... One thing that I made crystal clear to the kids is that all cats MUST use the litter box.

I have to say I'm smitten. The little thing follows me around an has that adorable baby 'mew'. Last night was almost like having a new baby; she slept right up against me and I had to take her to the litter box when she got fidgety.

After last evening I really don't think she was fully weaned. She kneads and mews and tries to suckle my fingers, although she does seem to be able to eat a bit of kibble.

Woodsterman (Odie) said...

Ah, what's one more cat. You can start a new blog called "White Paw".

Jeffrey L Watts said...

Our latest pup was not fully weaned, we actually bought a small baby bottle so it could drink better the first week we had her. Of our six dogs, two of them have to be separated at all times due to fighting...so yes, more pets in the house can become territorial...but what can you do? ;)

Always On Watch said...

Brooke,
Awwwww! So cute.

If we lived closer, I'd take that kitten off your hands. Our oldest cat isn't doing well, and I like to have three cats (which I do right now).

Brooke said...

Odie: LOL! I don't want to start collecting them and turn into a hoarder! ;) This kills the plan to get a puppy after our very elderly Great Dane has passed...

Jeff: One cat is entirely avoiding the situation, and the other is slooooowly starting to kind of accept it. Our Dane is a momma by nature, so she doesn't mind a kitten, but where I'm really worried is our Pitt Bull. She is not vicious, but does have a very high prey drive! She got herself a squirrel about a week ago!

Dave held the kitten last night and put Kona on her back to emphasize that she may not 'have' it. Our other cat, Spot, was adopted as a kitten and Kona made a serious attempt at chasing her. She was able to get away long enough for Dave to correct Kona. (Of course, 8lb Spot now terrifies the Pitt Bull when she hisses!) This kitten is MUCH smaller and doesn't move quickly.

We shall see... Of course, I will back the kitten up!

AOW: Aw! I'm sorry to hear about your oldest; it sounds just like our Dane, Fortune. She can't hold weight no matter how much she eats, has mobility issues and is VERY forgetful after previously being a Canine Good Citizen.

I've NEVER had more than two cats, so I'm not sure how the dominance structure shakes down.

It's a pity you aren't closer; the kids 'found' this kitten moments before the family that owns the shed took momma cat and all the other kittens to the shelter. Of course, the shelter was closed by the time they brought her home and I couldn't put such a helpless thing out.

*sigh*

They totally played me. ;)

Rogue said...

Brooke,
Check this out:
facebook.com/peteaters.forobama.7

- your friend Rogue Warrior/TJ's Anti-Contrarian Blog

Alligator said...

At one time, we had six cats in the house. Every new adoptee was dissed and hissed at by the others until they got used to them. Then they developed their pecking order at the food bowl and litter box. Keep the kitten, the other two can be mad for a little while.

Z said...

Brooke, she's not lapping up milk even?
Man, I'd worry about the pit bull...but if the pit sees the other dogs accepting the kitty, maybe..?
Good luck!

Brooke said...

Rogue: That's hilarious!

Long time, no see!

Gator: One cat is slowly starting to tolerate the baby, except for when she tries to play with the bigger one's tail!

The Siamese mix we have is definitely not happy. Every time I catch her starting to his, she gets a tap or a his from me.

NO ONE fights without my permission. ;)

We're keeping her. The kids want to name her Nibbler after Futurama. Heh.

Z: The Pittie is very prey driven, but will not chase when my husband is in the room. I get obedience from her, but at a bit of a lesser level. ;)

She is submissive!

The tiny kitten has already spit at her, which scared her, LOL! Our other cat, Spot, was tiny when we got her, was chased, and now RULES the house and terrifies the Pittie. All it took was her opening up the dog's nose once. I don't think she's forgotten!

Brooke said...

Z: I almost forgot; she is beginning to eat kibble and drink water. I read that you shouldn't give a kitten cow milk, so I decided to see what she would do before buying kitten milk. I think she's OK, but she still shows a lot of infantile behavior, being so young!

Always On Watch said...

Brooke,
I just knew that you were going to keep her. She's such a little darling!

Alligator said...

Cow milk = cat puke.

Brooke said...

AOW: I couldn't resist. She follows me, mews when she needs something and sleeps right next to my neck. She fits in my hand!

Gator: Yep. I already caught one of the kids trying to give her milk and had to put the hammer down on that one. :)

Rogue said...

Keep 'em away from POTUS or they'll be soup.

Brooke said...

Nah, I'm not worried; he's not Chinese, he's a Muslim. ;)

Although my brother almost found out the hard way what Kegogi is while he was in the military.

TooMuchTime said...

When we bought our house 4 years ago, we were sitting at our dining room table and I heard a meow! out the window. I looked and saw a black and white kitten. He was easily a few weeks younger than your new kitty. We have no idea where he came from but since he "came with the house" he's ours now. Four years later, he's still pretty cool.

Brooke said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Brooke said...

TMT: Thanks for the visit!

What a handsome boy! I have a black and white myself!

cube said...

That kitten is adorable. I read the above comments and knew you'd keep her. We definitely would as well.

Brooke said...

Cube: She's adorable, but we're entering the 'make me' phase. She is definitely high on the prey drive, unlike our Siamese, but much like our Tuxedo. However, she's a lot more aggressive than the other two cats, particularly when it comes to food. I've had to scruff her after a growl or two to make her realize who's in charge!

Even now, she can't weigh more than a can of soda, but she's already backed down our Pitt Bull over a bit of kibble I spilled on the floor!

Brooke said...

Our tuxedo, Spot, has started to mama her; grooming and allowing her tail to be chased with great patience.

The Siamese, Amy Spike (the kids named her) hates her and hisses and has generally avoided everyone with a sour attitude. She still hasn't come around, but at least is sharing the food bowl and the litter boxes, VERY grudgingly.

If you, Cube, or AOW have any suggestions on how to smooth our Siamese over, I'd be very appreciative. So far I've just let well enough alone and figured she'd eventually accept the kitten.

Brooke said...

Ooh, or Gator!